Please help me give a warm KT Literary welcome to new client, Kim Bussing. I’m thrilled to be partnering with Kim on her mind-blowing, imaginative middle grade fantasy that simply left me awestruck. From her beautiful, lyrical prose to her intricately crafted, highly original world, tight plotting, surprising twists, and a wonderfully strong yet flawed protagonist in Finn Sampson, THE LABYRINTH OF SHADOWS is easily one of the best books I’ve ever read. And I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to help shepherd it into the world.
Twelve-year-old Finn Sampson has spent her life selling mushrooms in Seattle, scampering through the shadows in pursuit of magical objects, and avoiding homework. Residing in an enchanted skyscraper with a yellow goat and little mushroom creatures, Finn and Carus, her guardian, are some of the last surviving mages in the city. Along with Ryland, Finn’s best friend — who is trapped within her watch by an unknown, and so-far unsolvable, curse. A chance encounter reveals that there is a much larger world of mages, and that Finn has a chance to save Ryland from this cursed prison. All she has to do is enter the Labyrinth, a dangerous game for the best young mages that grants the winner any wish.
But Finn has a devastating secret: she doesn’t have any magic. Still determined to save Ryland, she tricks her way into the Labyrinth and the puzzles and trials that await, armed with only the enchanted watch, an encyclopedic knowledge of mushrooms, and her own cleverness. As Finn faces perils and bullies, outwits pirates, and forges new friendships, she discovers that dark forces long believed gone have returned and the magical world is under threat. And that she’s unwittingly found herself at the center of it all.
About the Author:
Kim Bussing writes MG and YA novels while she continues to wait for her Hogwarts letter. Originally from Seattle, she is currently completing her MFA in creative writing at the University of Arizona, where she also taught fiction writing. Her short stories have won multiple awards, and her journalism has appeared in publications including Lit Hub, The Hollywood Reporter, VICE Canada, and Seattle Refined, among many others. When not writing, she can be found constantly reading, listening to Broadway songs, and ranking her favorite types of sweet potatoes.
Please, please congratulate Kim on Twitter and make sure to follow her too, so you can get updates on this amazing story!
